Sunday, February 17, 2008

A Global Spiritual Mandala

A GLOBAL SPIRITUAL MANDALA

Integral Symbols and Icons of the Divine Mystery

A ‘Sacred Psychology’ of Contemporary Spiritual Choice

ETHEREAL RATIONAL

Intuitive Thinking (NT)

Abstract Utilitarian

The Journey of Works

Jnana Yoga: Clarity

‘The Integral Mind’

Theology, Systems, Principles

Synthesis: Imagine & Reason

Professors: Design the Temple

North: Philosophical: Integrative

I.

‘GOD’

Mystery & Revelation

Iconic & Iconoclastic

Passive Being & Active Will

Identity & Relationship

Plenitude & Emptiness

Transcendent & Immanent

Transpersonal & Personal

Eternal & Emergent

OCEANIC IDEALIST

Intuitive Feeling (NF)

Abstract Cooperative

The Journey of Harmony

Raja Yoga: Experience

‘The Loving Heart’

Ideal, Communion, Meaning

Meditation: Imagine & Love

Prophets: Inspire the Temple

East: Wonderful: Poetic

II.

‘WORD’

‘Eternal & Incarnate’

‘Spirit & Matter’

‘Crucified & Risen’

‘Death & Transfiguration’

THE

DIVINE

MYSTERY

III.

‘SPIRIT’

‘Ancient & Medieval’

‘Modern & Emergent’

Local & Canonical

Critical & Global

TERRITORIAL GUARDIAN

Sensing-Thinking, Judging (ST)

Abstract Cooperative

The Journey of Works

Karma Yoga: Responsibility

‘The Righteous Will’

Beliefs, Identity, Proverbs

Work: Reason & Act

Proprietors: Run the Temple

West: Dutiful: Literal

IV.

‘COSMOS’

Unity & Differentiation

Subjectivity & Relationship

‘Above & Below’

Action & Reaction

Cause & Effect

Mass & Energy

Time & Space

Particle & Wave

VOLCANIC ARTISAN

Sensing-Feeling, Perceiving (SF)

Abstract Utilitarian

The Journey of Devotion

Bhakti Yoga: Service

‘The Beautiful Soul’

Piety, Creativity, Charisma

Devotion: Act & Love

Priests: Celebrate the Temple

South; Passionate: Tangible

THE SACRED AND HUMAN JOURNEY

A.

ANCIENT

Local Phase

Shaman & Sage

Mystic & Prophet

Wholeness & Wisdom

Love & Justice

A-B

Transition

B.

MEDIEVAL

Canonical Phase

Mysticism & Theology

Platonism & Scholasticism

Narrative & Doctrine

Experience & Reason

D-A

Transition

THE

DIVINE

MYSTERY

B-C

Transition

D.

EMERGENT

Global Phase

‘Ironicism’ & ‘Constructivism’

‘Emergentism’ & ‘Panpsychism’

‘Multi-Culturalism’ & ‘Globalism’

‘Eclecticism’ & ‘Integralism’

C-D

Transition

C.

MODERN

Critical Phase

Realism & Idealism

Rationalism & Romanticism

Empiricism & Transcendentalism

Existentialism & Pragmatism

Rev. Richard C. Lang, Omega House, ‘The Global Spirituality Project’

371 S. Mountain Ave., Ashland, OR 97520 (541) 488-2304 omegahouse@charter.net

Thursday, February 14, 2008

The Future of Wisdom: An Integral Pluralist Christian Mandala

THE FUTURE OF WISDOM

The Rebirth of ‘Sapiential Christianity’ in the Emerging Global Context:

An ‘Integral Pluralist’ and ‘Relational Emergent’ Vision of Encompassing Reality

“We have already seen a quaternary expression of the mystery of Christ in early Christianity. The four principal yogas, or Hindu spiritual paths, correspond to four dimensions of the human person and also to the four poles of this theological quaternary, which we may call the Christian mandala. The mandala, or quaternary figure, represents the mystery of the cross, which is realized as Trinity and creation become one in Christ. The figure described by the representation of this mystery in the Pauline Letters, however, is based on and inseparable from a particular historical occurrence, the paschal event of Jesus’ death and resurrection. In contrast to a figure of cosmic and human wholeness which would correspond to the perennial philosophy, this Pauline figure visually symbolizes an event that has become the center and pivot of history and represents the progressive consummation of history as an integration, or recapitulation, of all reality around that center.

“The Christian mandala, however, also has an ontological level of significance. The ultimate quaternary, as we find it in the New Testament and in the theological writings of the second century, is that of God, Word, Spirit, and World. The Word is that Divine Word, Wisdom, or Son which has become a human person in Jesus Christ.

“This quaternary vision, as we see already in Irenaeus, offers itself today as the structural framework of one possible new Christian wisdom. Christian theology has been until now – quite understandably – largely confined to the dimension of the Word (II). This pluralistic paradigm, on the other hand, presents all reality gathered together at its center (which is first of all the Risen Christ) and unfolding into four dimensions. It is our contact with the Asian traditions—and our consequent awakening to the absolute unitive principle (1) in its autonomy and purity—that open our theology consciousness to this wider view.”

The Future of Wisdom: Towards a Rebirth of Sapiential Christianity, by Bruno Barnhart, Pg. 54, 55, 126, 127

AN INTEGRAL PLURALIST CHRISTIAN MANDALA

The Divine Energy of

PERFECT TRUTH

Ethereal Rational (NT)

Abstract Utilitarian

The Integrative Mind

The Path of Intellective Unity

I.

GOD

Transpersonal, Personal

“Absolute Unitive Principle” Inwardness, Self-Possession,

“The Interior Contemplative East”

Historically Expressed in the Eastern Perennial Non-Dualist Traditions

The Divine Energy of

PERFECT LOVE

Oceanic Idealist (NF)

Abstract Cooperative

The Compassionate Heart

The Path of Relational Harmony

II.

WORD

Wisdom, Son

“Disengaged Reason”

“The Rational Principled North”

Historically Recapitulated and Reformulated in the Secular Modern Rationalist, Empirical, Analytical and Linguistic Movements

(Transcendent, Immanent, Relational)

TRINITY

|

THE MYSTERY OF

THE CHRIST-EVENT

|

CREATION

(Unity, Plurality, Relation)

III.

SPIRIT

Creativity, Passion

“Unitive Expressiveness”

“The Romantic Passionate South”

Historically Recapitulated and Reformulated in the Secular Modern Romantic, Transcendentalist, Existential and Pragmatic Movements

The Divine Energy of

PERFECT GOODNESS

Territorial Guardian (STj)

Concrete Cooperative

The Ethical Will

The Path of Good Works

IV.

COSMOS

History, Action

“Political-Social Freedom”

“The Exterior Activistic West”

~

Historically Recapitulated and Reformulated in Secular Modern Liberal and Post-Modern Liberationist Social and Political movements

The Divine Energy of

PERFECT BEAUTY

Volcanic Artisan (SFp)

Concrete Utilitarian

The Enchanted Soul

The Path of Aesthetic Creativity

FMI, contact Rich Lang: Omega House, 371 S. Mountain Ave., Ashland, OR 97520 (541) 488-2304 omegahouse@charter.net

Tuesday, February 12, 2008

The Contemporary Meeting of East and West

THE CONTEMPORARY MEETING OF EAST AND WEST

Understanding Two Great Spiritual Traditions and Human Sensibilities

East

East-West

West

Pantheistic:

“All Is the Divine Self”

Qualified Non-Dualism

Hindu Theism

Theistic Mysticism

Process Pan-en-theism

Open Theism

Monotheistic:

“There Is Only One God”

“I-Am”

“True Self”

“I-Thou”

“Lover-Beloved”

Coincidence of Opposites:

We Are One & We Are Two

“Thou Art”

“Wholly Other”

Transcendent

Integral, Identical

IMMANENT

Transcendence (Beyond)

Identity & Relationship

Immanence (Within)

TRANSCENDENT

Incarnational, Relational

Immanent

Mythic Archetypes

Mythical & Historical

Historical Events

Symbol of the Divine Mother

“Ma”

“Mother-Father God”

Symbol of the Divine Father

“Abba”

Spirit is Essence-Existence

Spirit is God-Goddess

Spirit is Consciousness-Energy

Unity & Plurality

God is Creator & Sustainer

God is Reconciler & Liberator

God is Indweller & Transformer

Essence/Emanation Identity

Divine Necessity & Freedom

Human Necessity & Freedom

Creator/Creation Distinction

Integral, Mystical

Beauty, Love, Goodness, Truth

Numinous, Prophetic

Psychological “Both-And”

Psychological Insight

And Ethical Integrity

Ethical “Either-Or”

Beauty & Ugliness Are One

Truth & Illusion Are One

Good & Evil Are One

Love & Hate Are One

Light & Darkness Are One

Beauty & Ugliness Are Related

Truth & Illusion Are Related

Good & Evil Are Related

Love & Hate Are Related

Love & Darkness Are Related

BEAUTY vs. Ugliness

TRUTH vs. Illusion

GOOD vs. Evil

LOVE vs. Hate

LIGHT vs. Darkness

Being, Consciousness, Bliss

Unity, Diversity, Harmony

Consciousness & Conscience

Eros & Agape; Sophia & Logos

Justice, Mercy, Peace

Faith, Hope, Love

Richard C. Lang, Omega House

The Institute for Creative Human Development

371 S. Mountain Ave., Ashland, OR 97520 (541) 488-2304 omegahouse@charter.net

Monday, February 11, 2008

Models of Reality

MODELS OF REALITY

Comparing Various Religious, Metaphysical and Cosmological Worldviews

By Richard C. Lang

ZOROASTRIAN DUALISM

The Story of the Eternal Dualistic Struggle between Two Equal and Opposite Divine Powers

Good God

Light

Love

Life

Evil God

Darkness

Evil

Death


BIBLICAL THEISM

The Story of the Infinite Personal God who freely acts in divine sovereign self-emptying love to create finite worlds and living beings that are capable of realizing many positive values and of ultimately becoming spiritually united to the divine life

Creator

God is the Infinite Personal Creator, Sustainer, Redeemer, Reconciler, Indweller and Transformer.

Creation

The creation of the cosmos out of nothing is a free and sovereign act of divine self-emptying love.

Humans are created in the divine image but fallen into alienation from God, nature, neighbor and self. Through acts of saving grace God provides the means of redemption, reconciliation, sanctification and transfiguration so that spiritually regenerated human beings are able to participate in the divine life of eternal self-emptying love.

Historical Prophetic Ethical and Eschatological Movement from Creation to Consummation

Creation>

Fall>

Redemption>

Consummation


HINDU VEDANTA (PERENNIAL PHILOSOPHY)

The Story of the Integral (Non-Dual) Hierarchical (Holistic) Relation between Divine Transcendence and Immanence

Bi-Modal Aspects of the Same Reality: Transcendence and Immanence

Transcendence:

Invisible Reality, The Absolute, Essence, Consciousness

Immanence:

Visible Reality, The Relative, Existence, Illusion, Energy

Four Levels of Integral Reality: Body, Soul, Mind, Spirit

Spirit: The Trans-personal Absolute

Mind: The Personal Creator

Soul: The Archetypal World

Body: The Natural World

Four Quadrants of Integral Yoga (Psychological Types)

Raja Yoga

NF Intuitive Feeling

Oceanic Idealist

The Way of Relational Harmony

Jnana Yoga

NT Intuitive Thinking

Ethereal Rational

The Way of Intellective Unity

Bhakti Yoga

SFp Sensing Feeling Perceiving

Volcanic Artisan

The Way of Expressive Devotion

Karma Yoga

STj Sensing Thinking Judging

Territorial Guardian

The Way of Good Works

Four Quadrants of Integral Reality (Ken Wilber)

Intention:

Individual Interior

Behavior:

Individual Exterior

Culture:

Collective Exterior

Society:

Collective Exterior


ESOTERIC ANIMISM

The story of the Infinite Plurality of Gods and Goddesses, of Esoteric Energies that influence the world and our lives through their hidden magical or occult powers at work within the astrological signs, synchronistic serendipities, multiple realities, and universal archetypes that constitute the individual and collective unconscious. What we call ‘reality’ is actually constituted by an infinite variety of irreducible pluralities, whether conceived as the ‘gods and goddesses’, the ‘primordial archetypes’, the ‘principalities and powers’, ‘the implicit order’ or the ‘morphic resonance fields’. The ‘spirit world’ contains an infinite number of separate or overlapping realities. (Think ‘Star-gates’ and ‘worm-holes)

Feminine Archetypes (Deities or Energies?)

Masculine Archetypes (Deities or Energies?)

The Innocent

The Orphan

The Warrior

The Caregiver

The Seeker

The Destroyer

The Creator

The Lover

The Ruler

The Shaman

The Sage

The Fool

Signs of the Zodiac:

Aries The Ram &aries; Mar. 21–Apr. 19

Taurus The Bull &taur; Apr. 20–May 20

Gemini The Twins &gemin; May 21–June 21

Cancer The Crab &canc; June 22–July 22

Leo The Lion &leo; July 23–Aug. 22

Virgo The Virgin &virgo; Aug. 23–Sept. 22

Libra The Balance &libra; Sept. 23–Oct. 23

Scorpio The Scorpion &scorp; Oct. 24–Nov. 21

Sagittarius The Archer &sagit; Nov. 22–Dec. 21

Capricorn The Goat &capri; Dec. 22–Jan. 19

Aquarius The Water Bearer &aquar; Jan. 20–Feb. 18

Pisces The Fishes &pisc; Feb. 19–Mar. 20


REDUCTIVE NATURALISM

The Story of Everything 'Reduced' to Positivistic Science and Naturalistic Materialism

Religion, Humanities, and Arts All Reduce to ‘Positivistic Science’ and ‘Naturalistic Materialism’

The Social Sciences reduced to Cognitive Sciences

The Cognitive Sciences reduced to Natural Sciences

The Natural Sciences reduced to Physical Sciences


EMERGENT NATURALISM

The Story of the Evolving, Self-Organizing Emergent Universe Giving Spontaneous Rise to Complex Forms of Creative Intelligence and Global Consciousness

1. Cosmic ‘Big Bang’

2. Nebulas

3. Galaxies

4. Stars

5. Super Novas

6. New Stars

7. Our Sun

8. Our Earth

9. Minerals

10. Vegetation

11. Insects, Animals

12. Homo Sapiens

13. Ancient Era

14. Medieval Era

15. Modern Era

16. Emergent Era


INTEGRAL EVOLUTION

The Story of the Evolution of the Cosmos and Consciousness through the Immanent Guidance of Transpersonal Spirit

1. Undifferentiated

2. Animistic

3. Totalitarian

4. Theistic

5. Enterprising

6. Ecological

7. Organic

8. Integral


PROCESS THEOLOGY

The story of ‘the process God’, who is neither ‘absolutely sovereign’ nor ‘all-knowing’ (as in classical theism), and who possesses both a 'primordial' (axiological) ethical nature and a 'consequential' (metaphysical) creative nature, exercising non-coercive influence over 'chaos' to create an open, novel and emergent cosmos in which many finite goods (along with suffering and pain) and ultimately good and worthwhile divine purposes are realized in progressive durations of time through the divine 'lure' of primarily immanent creative processes

1. God Shaping Primal Chaos

2. God Luring the Cosmos

3. Life in Creative Process

4. God Realizing New Values

Saturday, February 2, 2008

Into the Mystery: Beyond World-View Attachments?

Can we (and should we) attempt to go beyond our various cognitive attachment, including our world-view attachments, through an immediate intuitive intellective but non-rational apprehension of integral and unitive reality? Is it not a paradox that "non-dualism" may be itself just another form of "cognitive attachment" rather than an immediate intuitive awareness of the mystical integral unity of reality?

What are your thoughts?

Friday, February 1, 2008

Mystical, Relational, and Prophetic Religion

MYSTICAL, RELATIONAL, AND PROPHETIC RELIGION

A Typological Study

MYSTICAL RELIGION

“I AM”

Essential Self

RELATIONAL RELIGION

“I-THOU”

Integral Relation

PROPHETIC RELIGION

“THOU ART”

Wholly Other

Left Handed, Right Brained

Right Handed, Left Brain

Integral, Convergent Point

Dualistic, Divergent Paths

Both-And: Inclusive Synthesis

Either-Or: Exclusive Alternatives

Liberal: Change

Conservative: Tradition

Permissive, Tolerant

Strict, Demanding

Diversity, Pluralistic

Uniformity, Monolithic

Communion, Embrace

Confrontation, Exclude

Egalitarian, Horizontal

Hierarchal, Vertical

Intimacy, Pleasure

Authority, Power

Dialogue, Reciprocity

Proclamation, Repentance

Aesthetic, Creative

Ethical, Redemptive

Relational Processes

Absolute Commandments

The Dynamic of Paradox

The Law of Non-Contradiction

Internal Light, Illumination

External Law, Obedience

Inclusive Cultural Symbiosis

Exclusive Cultural Choices

Collective: Organic

Individualistic: Voluntary

Feminine, Venus, Grace

Masculine, Mars, Grit

Contemplative, Eternal Now

Active, Salvation History

Luring, Attracting

Commanding, Coercing

Freedom, Spontaneity

Discipline, Control

Eros, Desire, Passion, Dionysus

Agape, Reason, Order, Apollo

Immanent, Within

Transcendent, Beyond

Sophia, Wisdom, Beauty

Logos, Word, Truth

Becoming-in-Essence

Being-in-Charge

Creative Emergence

Redemptive Eschatology

Divine Sociability

Divine Sovereignty

Sacred Pleasure

Sacred Suffering

Epicurean, Sensuous

Stoic, Ascetic

Expressive Creativity

Restrained Submission

Poetic, Mythic, Symbolic

Dogmatic, Literal, Propositional

Introverted, Inward

Extraverted, Outward

Emotion & Intuition

Cognition & Volition

Wholeness, Integration

Holiness, Integrity

Playfulness, Imagination

Purity, Righteousness

Subjectivity, Ecstasy

Objectivity, Sobriety

Being, Consciousness, Bliss

Faith, Hope, Love

Seeking, Wandering About

Dwelling, Waiting Upon

Adventurous, Curious

Cautious, Vigilant

“Healthy-Minded” Religion

“Soul-Sick” Religion

Once Born: Creativity

Twice Born: Conversion

Awakened, Enchanted

Redeemed, Delivered

The One and The All

The Sheep vs. The Goats

Mystical Divine Union:

“God Will Be All in All”

Prophetic Divine Judgment:

The Saved vs. The Damned

Richard C. Lang, Omega House, 371 S. Mountain Ave., Ashland, OR 97520 (541) 488-2304 omegahouse@charter.net